Combination tool



Jupe24, 1930. J.T1SWEENEY J 1,767,489

COIBINATION TOOL v Filed Aug. 4, 1922 my J36 ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 193G UNITE-D STA 7 JOHN T. SWEENEY, OF KINGSTON, NEW YORK COMBINATION moon Application filed August 4, 1922. Serial No. 579,588,

My invention relates to combination tools, and more particularly to a household tool embodying therein acuttingblade adapted for use in opening ordinary tin cans, and being so constructed as to remove so-called friction tops from containers of different types, as well as the closure caps from bottles. a

A tool embodying my invention is made principally of sheet metal, and embodies a looped handle carrying the cutting blade and a fulcrum head plate secured to-the end of the handle above the blade in a mannerously for lifting the top from a can of the friction top type, and also for removing the ordinary crown caps from bottles. I also employ a blade having a serrated cutting.

edge, so as to ensure greater ease in the actuation of the tool when cutting the tin of cans. i

The invention consists primarly in a combination tool embodying therein a looped handle formed of strip metal, having a portion adjacent its ends closed together, a cutting blade secured between the portion of said handle adjacent the closed ends of the strip forming the same, with its cutting edge projected forwardly thereof, the ends of the handle-forming strip'being cut obliquely to the cutting edge of said blade, and a fulcrum head plate permanently secured against the oblique ends of the handleforming strip above and extending laterally of said cutting blade; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in-the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a tool embodying my invention;

"Fig. 2'is'a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and i Fig. 4 is a detail view o'f'the fulcrum hea plate removed from the tool.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views. I In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the tool includes a strip metal handle a looped intermediateits ends to 1 form the desired grip and at the same time to receive a'corkscrew b in a protectedposltionxwhere it cannot in ure the hand while the tool is in use in opening cans or bottles. This general arrangement is old in the art, being common to many types of. can openers. V

The strip forming the I handle a is, so formed that the portions thereof adjacent the opposite ends of the strip are contracted V as indicated at 0, space'being allowed to receive a cutting blade (Z adjacent the portions of the strip so brought together, which. blade is riveted or otherwise secured in position. The point of the blade d projects forwardly of the ends ofthe strip forming the handle a.

rss PATENT OFFICE" Beyond the point of support for the out I I tingblade, but adjacent thereto, the ends of the strip forming the handle a are brought together as indicated at 6, so. as to form a rigid mount for a fulcrum head plate, which will be more fully described hereinafter..

The opposite ends of thestrip forming the handle a are cut obliquely to the cutting edge of the blade (Z as shown more particularly in Fig. 2,. so as to give the desired angular relation of the fulcrum head plate to the cutting edgerof the blade (Z, and insure the initialengagement of one edge of this platelwith the rim of the can when the cutting blade is: in use, towards the beginning of the making of a cut, and of the other edge thereof, towards the end of the making of the cut. The fulcrum head plate is positioned rearwardly of the point of the blade at so that said'plate will not interfere with the initial puncturing of the metal of a can.

The fulcrum head plate above referred to,

the leverage necessary is formed of sheet metal having a widened portion f at one end thereof, and a narrow angular portion 9 at the other end thereof, the central part of the portion having an arched or curved cutout portion 72 the center of which arched or curved cutout portion is directly above the cutting blade (3. The angular portion 9 extends towards the looped handle a.

Preferably the fulcrum head plate is secured to the handle a by means of an angular opening therein indicated. at i in Fig. i, adapted to receive angular rivet-forming studs projecting from the ends of the strip forming the handle at, these ends being upset by an ordinary riveting operation when assembling the fulcrum head plate in the tool.

Preferably the sharpened edge'of the cutter (Z is serrated. as indicated at d, although other styles of cutting edges may be employed.

In forming the arched or curved cutout portion h, in the fulcrum head plate, I use a tool which will remove the metal by a substantially straight cut, thus insuring clean, sharp edges which by reason of the angular position of the fulcrum head plate will be alternately directed against'the metal of a can as the cutting of the metal progresses, one edge engaging the can when the position of the tool is such as is required to give the initial cutting action for a long cut, and the otheredge engaging the can towards the end of the cut. The bite secured by such edges, particularly that last to engage the can, materially increases the effectiveness of the blade cl, since any slippage which will occur in the use of a can opener employing a cutting blade of this general type, is greatest towards the end of the upward. movement of the blade when making the cut.

The rivet-forming studs are indicated at z" and the part of the narrow angular portion 9 used for removing friction tops or bottle caps is indicated at 9", this part having a reduced edge as shown and. being of a length to secure the necessary leverage against the edge of a can adjacent the rim of a friction top in removing such a top, the handle a providing a fulcrum securing for removing a crown bottle cap. Y

In assembling the tool, the studs 2" are passed through the angular opening i in the fulcrum head plate, and are riveted in the usual manner, the angularity of the opening 2' preventing rotative movement of said plate with relation to the handle, and the oblique ends of the strip forming the handle a, giving the desired inclination to the plate, the riveting being sufficiently strong to insure the necessary permanency in the positioning of this plate with relation to the blade (Z. This plate is assembled in the structure after the blade 0? has been secured to the handle, it being possible to mount the corkscrew I) either before or after the attachment of the fulcrum head plate.

When using the tool as a can opener, the top or the side of a tin can is punctured by the blade with a blow upon the end of the handle of sufficient force to cause the point of the blade (Z to pass through the tin. The blade is then forced downwardly and forwardly and brought for a substantial portion of its length beneath the tin to be cut. This causes the edge of the cutout portion h positioned toward the handle a to engage the metal of the can so.- as to. bite thereon in a manner to facilitate the initial upward movement of the blade without. pos sibility of slippage. During this upward movement, and immediately following the. initial cutting action, the; angle of the. blade (Z will be such as to minimize any tendency of the fulcrum head plate to slip and prevent cutting action of the blade, but as the angle of the blade becomes more acute, the tendency of the fulcrum head to slip is very much accentuated. By mounting the fu1- crum head plate at an angle, however, the engagement of the forward edge thereof with the can in the direction of the cut, is delayed so that the final oscillatory movement of the tool will be about this edge as a, fu lcrum so that the strongest. bite is secured at that time toward the end of the cut when the tendency of the resistance encountered by the blade is to cause slippage of the fulcrum head in relation to the can.

The arched or curved cutout portion h is that commonly found in can openers, to

provide side guides or gages facilitating the use of the cutter about either the edge of .the top of a can or the side of the can adjacent the top. r I

The construction of the fulcrum head plate and its oblique position with relation to the edge of the cutting blade imparts particularly desirable characteristics to the tool both in insuring more effective accuracy of the tool when cutting and insuring economy in production.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the. precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A tool of the character described embodying therein a looped handle formed of strip metal, having a portion adjacent its ends closed together, whereby a cutting blade may be secured between the portion of said handle adjacent the closed ends. of

the strip forming the same, with its cutting edge projected forwardly thereof, the ends of the handle-forming strip being cut obliquely, and a fulcrum head plate permanently secured against the oblique ends of the handle-forming strip above and extending laterally of the closed ends of said handle.

2. A tool of the character described em bodying therein a handle, a metal plate secured intermediate its ends-to the end of said handle, said plate having one end thereof laterally extended and provided substantially centrally of the'edge thereof with a curved cutout portion, and the other end thereof laterally reduced with its extremity turned at an angle longitudinally of and projecting towards the handle. 7 p

3. A tool of the character described embodying therein a looped strip metal handle having its ends closed together, and cut obliquely, a metal plate secured intermediate its ends to the end of said handle, said plate having one end thereof laterally ex: tended and provided substantially centrally of the edge thereof with a curved .cutout portion, and the other end thereof laterally reduced with its extremity turned at an angle longitudinally of and projecting tosaid studs being of a length to be upset against said plate to permanently secure it against the oblique ends of the handle-form ing strip. a V

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature, this 20th day of July, 1922.

e V JOHN T. SWEENEY.

wards the handle, and meanspermanently securing said'plate against the oblique ends of the handle-forming strip.

4. A tool of the character described em-.

bodying therein a looped handle formed of strip metal, having a portion adjacent its ends closed together whereby, .a cutting blade may be secured between the portion of said handle adjacent the closed ends of the strip forming the same, with its cutting edge projected forwardly thereof, the ends of the handle-forming strip being cut obliquely, and having rivet-forming studs formed integrally therewith and projecting therefrom, and a fulcrum head plate having an angular opening through which said studs are passed and upset, whereby said plate is permanently secured against the I oblique ends of the handle-forming strip above and extending laterally of the closed ends of said handle.

5. A tool of thecharacter described embodying therein a looped strip metal handle having its ends closed together, and out obliquely, a metal plate secured intermediate its ends to the end of said handle, said plate having one end thereof laterally extended and provided substantially centrally f 

